Improved washing-machine



` To` all 'whom t'nay concern faniela entre @am titille HARLESH. DE KNIGHT, PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

`l'lettcirs Patent N."106,1j37, elated August 9,` 187 l I n l MoN-*,-

` The Sehedule referred tolin these Letters Patent and making part of the same- Be it knownthat I, CHAaLns H. Dn KNIGHT, of Pittsburg, inthecounty 'of Allegheny'and State of Pennsylvania, have inventeda new and useful Improvement'in Washing-Machines; 'and I do here` byideclare that the following isa full, clear, and exact'description thereof,reference being had to the accompanying drawing andto the letters of reference t marked thereon. .L

The nature of my invention consists in an arrangement ofpa rubbing-.disk'within a wash-tub, the lower snrfaceotsaid disk, and theupper surface of the bottom of the tub, being provided with a series of `curved'rubbing-strips, said'disk' being pi'voted to `al hollow vertical shaft, in which is placed an adjustable spiral spring, which imparts a downward pressnre to the'rnbbing-disk, which has a rotating recip-` rocating motion given to it through the medium of said hollow vertical shaft, driven by suitable drivinggear. l d

To enablcothers" skilled in `the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed "to describe more fully its construction and operation. d In the accompanying drawing, which forms part of `my specication- Figure l is a -top `view of my improvement in washing-machines,representing the lid and rubbingdisk turned back; d

Figure 2 is a side view of the same. f

Figure 3 is a lvertical section of the machine, when cut through at liney'oftg. 4; i

Figure 4 isa side view of the `washing-machine, representing the arrangement `of `the drivinggear when the lid is` 'closed down on the' tub, and the rubbing-disk within it.' i

In the accompanying drawing- `Arepresents the tub of the washing-machine,- and B its lid,which is hinged at G tothe tub.

On the upper side of the lid B are attached two supports or bearings, g,for the axis of the drivingwheel f, which gears into a' smallV pinion, e, secured on the Vupper end of a hollow shaft, J, provided with two' slots, i, in which moves a pin, X, which is used for holding 4the rubbing-disk It' on the hollow shaft J, in the hoe of which Ais placed a spiral spring, S, the pressureot' `which-is'gregulated by means of a set-screw, P, placed inthe center of the pinion e.

Inthe lid 1) is securedj a` bearing, I), for the shaft -J andin vthe center of the rubbing-disk R 'is secured e 'the shaft J The lower end-of the spiral spring S rests on the upper side of the pin X, and forces down the'rubber R.

The lower side of the rubbing-disk R, and theupper surface ofthe bottom of the tub A, are provided with curved and corrugated strips, m and n, clearly shown in iig. 1.

The bearings D and K, the hollow shaft' J, the' The curved and corrugated strips or ribs, tm. and n,

are arranged so that the line of curvature of the strips n, on the bottom of the tub, run in a contrary direction tothe; strips m on the face of the rubbingdisk-R. i

By this arrangement of thestrips m and n, the

rubbing and washing process bis vgreatly facilitated, and

the clothes are kept evenly spread over the bottom of the tub, and all the parts of the clothes brought in frequent contact with the cleaning action'of the rub-v bing-disk R. f 4

By the arrangement of the hollow shaft'J, and spiral spring S in it, Vand vthe use of slots i, pin X,

guide or bearings D, and set-screw P, the spring S is perfectly protected, and heldin its line of action, and can be so adjusted and regulated by the setserew P as, to give any desired pressure on and toJ rubbing force to the disk It, and the bearing or guide K will pre-v vent it from waddlingwhen being rotated during the washing process. Y Y

The operation of the machine is as follows:

. f rlhe lid B and disk R are turned back, as shown in fig. 1,.;1nd a suitable quantity of water poured into the tub. 4The desired quantity and kind of clothes are selected, soapcd, and placed in the water in thetub. r.lhe lid B and diskllt are then turnedback into the position indicated in figs. 2, 3, andres. The

`lid B is then secureddown by a.hook, button, or other device.

The operator then takes hold of the lever h, and imparts to it a reciprocating motion, which imparts, through the medium of the wheel f and pinion e, a rotating'reciprocating,motion to the rubbing-disk R, which will, by its eren downward pressure, andaction on the clothes, wash them with ease and facility,

4without undue wear of the fabric.'

4The clothes are then lremoved from the machine, manipulated in the ordinary manner, for boiling, rinsing or wringing.

Having thus described the nature, construction, and wheel f and Iinion e, the whole being constructed Operation of my improvement, vsubstantially as herein described, and tor the purpose What I claim as of my invention isset forth.

The combination and arrangement of the hollow CHARLES H. DE KNIGHT.

vertical shaft; J provided Wit-h slot-s i, spiral spring S; W'itnesses:k guide or bearing K, pin X, and set-screw P, with the FRANKLIN'BOUND,

JNO. MILLER. f

rubbing-disk R, operated through medium of lever h, 

